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I was just learning this English 247. I didn't believe at all that my method, which I would invent, would be liked by anyone. >> What is the fastest way to learn English? >> I can explain any rule in 30 seconds. I speak, I don't speak, do you speak? When do you speak, why do you speak? And so on. And this can be applied to everything. >> The worse you speak, [music] the more beautiful it sounds to Americans. Friends, today I have an amazing guest, NZ. Thank you very much for coming. You are a blogger, the author of a unique method of conversational English. You grew up in a small village, but became a blogger and gained over half a million subscribers in a year. >> Yes. >> Wow. You didn't know English at all and were the weakest in the group, but in the end, you came up with a unique method that worked for thousands of students. >> Yes, that's right. >> Cool. And you went through literally everything, worked in Shanghai, lost all your money during the pandemic, and were even arrested in Japan. So, >> yes, I almost ended up in slavery in Korea. Well, yes, it happened. >> Wow, wow-wow. Friends, this is the Lasman podcast. Here we talk about how immigrants earn their first million and build their dream life in the USA. You said that in university you were the worst >> and in school you weren't the best, >> and now you teach others. How, first of all, did this thought, this idea, appear? Uh-huh. >> And secondly, how were you able to develop this story somehow, you know, to come up with all this and present it. >> Well, I'll start by saying that I didn't like English at all. Well, I hated English. And my whole life, I dreamed of becoming a choreographer. And after the ninth grade, I said: "Thank you, teachers, I don't love you very much. I went and enrolled to study choreography." I had a serious injury. I couldn't walk for six months straight. I broke my leg, a bone element, and I had to go back to school. In school, I was a rebel, a really strong rebel. I didn't listen to anyone, sat at the last desk, and didn't want to study. And the fact that I am Tatar, and I studied in a Chuvash school, the teachers didn't like me very much. Uh-huh. >> That's why I showed my rebellious character. I could just stand up and say to the teacher: "I love you very much too." And leave the class altogether. I fought a lot. I fought with boys, I fought with girls. And all the teachers scolded me. And I remember, my mom always, every time she went to a parent-teacher meeting, all the teachers scolded me, except for the librarian. The librarian, on the other hand, praised me because I read the largest number of books in the school and in the entire district. >> Right. So I was very well-read. And in general, because I read a lot, I learned a lot about other countries. And my main goal was to visit abroad at least once. I can't be a choreographer. Doctors forbid me to dance at all. >> due to my leg injury. And I just sit, uh, in classes, and they ask me: "The Unified State Exam is in 5 months, what are you going to do? What will you take?" >> Uh-huh. >> And I'm like: "I don't know." And my class advisor comes up to me and says: "Let's go to my English teachers." I'm like: "Okay, let's." And in 5 months, I prepare, it turns out, for English. >> How do you prepare? Maybe a few details? >> Yes, I'm just such a rebel, I never studied anything, and then I suddenly got serious. I was just learning this English 247. That is, uh, I had a tutor who was my class advisor. She loved me very much, and, probably, that made me love English too. I had problems with other teachers, so I didn't study with them. But if a teacher treats me well, I give my all. Like a cat. Stroke me the right way, and I'm good. Stroke me the wrong way, and I'm very angry. >> Uh-huh. >> Right. And I prepared like that. But I prepared purely for the Unified State Exam, all sorts of grammar, essays. I just crammed it all. I couldn't speak at all. I got 86 points on the English Unified State Exam. >> That's very cool. That's amazing. >> In 5 months from scratch, my English was like "my phaseer". What are you doing? London is the capital of Great Britain. That's all I knew. I didn't know what "he" was, I didn't know what "she" was. And so I prepared, entered university. And at university, I was simply the dumbest in the group. How did that feel? >> Uh-huh. >> I remember, we were told to speak only in English, asked some questions about hobbies, tell us about yourself. I sat there, blinking, I didn't understand anything. And everyone was really answering. I turn to a boy and say: "How do you know English?" He says: "I played computer games." And I'm like: "So how do you do it?" Maybe I have dyslexia. And slowness, I don't know, I don't understand the first time. I need to sit and think, or repeat it twice to understand something. That's why I wasn't a very good student. But when I sat at home, I thought about how to explain this to myself in other words easily. The teachers there explained with words like "gerunds" and "infinitives," I didn't understand. I came home, thinking, how can I explain this rule so that I understand it, and I developed a method in terms of a scheme. I can do like a + b = c. You rearrange the words, substitute them, and you get the answer. And I made myself such a scheme. And now I can explain any rule, any grammar, in 30 seconds. And with such simple words that even a child will understand. >> Friends, after each episode is published, I receive a lot of feedback not only from you, the viewers, but also from our guests. They share how their business changes after interviews on our channel. New sides of their personality are revealed. Profiles are filled with expert video. Fragments from interviews are used on social media. New subscribers appear, and client requests come in. Therefore, I decided to offer this opportunity to you as well. If you have your own business and want more people in the USA to know about it, for you as entrepreneurs, as individuals, to tell your story, attract attention to your brand, and receive new leads at a very favorable price, you can become a hero of one of our episodes. A large team works on each interview. We will meet with you in advance to understand your story. Highlight the strongest moments and choose the triggers that will definitely hook viewers. We will write the script, film, edit, publish, and promote your interview on YouTube. And all you need to do is two things. First, you need to come for the filming. Second, fill out the application in advance via the link in the description, and we will contact you, tell you about the available options for cooperation, and together we will ensure that the Russian-speaking audience in America learns about your business. While you go to the link in the description and fill out the questionnaire, we return to our guest. How did you come up with the idea to broadcast this to other people and that it would be in demand and have a certain appeal? >> I didn't believe at all that my method, which I invented, would be liked by anyone. I didn't believe that people would be interested in such a thing at all. The main thing was that I understood and perfectly trained all this through tutoring, that is, I showed how and what. And in general, people understood, but I didn't think that people would actually like my perspective. I never expected it. And I didn't plan to broadcast it to people, to post all this on Instagram, I didn't think so. But it happened that I was teaching someone, they recommended me to their friends, and so on. I had good word-of-mouth. >> Uh-huh. >> And I remember, probably the most pivotal moment in my life. I was left without a job in Moscow. I was left without money. I had to pay for the apartment, and then it was my friend's birthday. But I thought, I'll just go, relax a little. I go there and see a beautiful girl, really beautiful. Wow. I look at her, and I'm like: "Are you wearing makeup or not?" She says: "Not." I say: "You are so beautiful." And she sits next to me and asks: "What do you do?" I say: "I'm an English teacher." She says: "I want to study with you." This girl turned out to be a dollar millionaire and started recommending me to her friends, politicians, entrepreneurs. As a result, my circle of students, everyone likes it, the effect is fast, that is, they just start speaking English as soon as we begin. The effect is good. They recommend me to their friends like this, and I started getting very cool entrepreneurs as students. I didn't even have a blog or anything yet. It was so pleasant that such cool people liked how I explain, how I teach. And at one point, I had a heartbreak situation. My heart was broken. And I, I have anxiety, all that. And my student says to me: "Why are you anxious? Let's get distracted, let's make a bet. Let's post videos. You about English, me about my thing. If you don't post every day for a month, you pay 50 dollars, and I had no money at all." Well, I mean, I had little money in general to pay for the apartment and so on. And I say: "Okay." I'll distract myself from my heart problems. I start posting videos, and I remember: "Going on a date." I have nothing to post. I look at the taxi driver and say: "Do you know English?" He says: "No." I'm like: "Damn." And I say: "Shall we film some video?" He says: "What kind?" I'm like: "Damn, I don't know." I just filmed a video in the taxi for 1 minute. Before the restaurant, I edited this video in 5 minutes, posted it, and went on my date and so on. The next morning, I wake up, and I already have 10,000 subscribers. >> Wow. >> And they like how I explain. >> Uh-huh. >> It was a big shock for me. For me, it was a joke. Are you serious? People started recognizing me in neighboring cafes, asking: "Oh, isn't that you who filmed with the taxi driver? My next video goes viral, the next one. How I explain grammar in 3 seconds, how I come up with all sorts of life hacks. And people like it." And I realized that I had gained recognition, that my way of seeing things, that people liked it. >> Cool. Uh, listen, well >> my eyes are burning. I really feel how much I like this. >> Let's talk about the beginning of your journey. You, uh, in a number of interviews, yes, and here with us, have spoken and are speaking about the fact that you are from a small village. And despite all that, how did you decide, perhaps, to get out of there? And was it your dream initially, or did you decide along the way that you wanted to travel? >> I dreamed of getting out of the village very much. I was even in the city very rarely. In general, I dreamed of not only getting out of the village but also visiting abroad at least once in my life. For me, that was the biggest dream. And I really fantasized about it. Going to the city was an event for me, and visiting abroad was something bordering on fantasy, something unreal. >> And when was the first time you were abroad? >> In 2017, here in the USA. My first time abroad. >> That's your first time abroad. Not bad, [laughter] >> yes. But to come here, I took out a loan. That is, my parents took a loan from their bosses, and I took a loan from them, and said that I would return it all completely. >> Wow. >> That's how it was. >> And what were you doing for work at that time? >> I was a student. A student. >> Uh, so you were a student or? >> Well, I was working in parallel. I worked as an English-speaking nanny, a tutor, and in the evenings, I worked part-time as a dishwasher or a waitress. >> And I had three or four jobs. Yes. >> Why so many jobs? Because you couldn't fill your working time with something one, or were you yourself interested, so to speak, in trying yourself in different fields? >> I needed money. I desperately needed money because my parents are not rich at all, and I had only 5 dollars a week. That was mostly enough for transportation. So I found a nanny job, it turns out, I worked there for 3-4 hours. Then, in my free time, I worked as a tutor and also as a waitress. Well, all of this pays little, so that's how I earned money, worked part-time. I didn't even have many pants. That is, I constantly wore one pair of jeans, and I needed money to buy myself something, food, clothes. >> If we talk about the method, how does it differ from, perhaps, traditional English learning courses? Can you describe the peculiarity of your method in two or three sentences? >> I studied to be an English teacher. I know many methods. >> Uh-huh. And the coolest and simplest method, the most effective one, is speaking. >> Uh-huh. >> When a child is born, they don't learn to write or read, but to speak >> and understand. >> It's the same with English. Any language requires just a lot of speaking. >> It's like when we can say "in the morning". >> Uh-huh. >> If we say "the morning" 10 times, our tongue will simply remember it and always say it that way. We don't even think "Is this correct? According to the rules?" No, the tongue has already remembered the correct version because it has pronounced it many times. >> Uh-huh. >> That's all. >> It's the same with all grammar. >> Uh-huh. >> Do you agree with this joke that I saw, I think, on Instagram or Facebook? Uh, you know, when someone says: "Well, how do we say: 'Hello everyone, my name is Ilya, I am glad to see you.'" And now you take your finger and insert it: "Hell everyone. Ilya." >> Oh, [laughter] how beautiful it turns out. >> It turns out, like. I showed it to my neighbors, where I live, they laughed for a long time. Americans really work. >> Yes, it's very cool. I'll give it away. >> Thank you. I'll make a video about it. >> Well, generally, yes, the more we speak, the more correctly it is remembered. And if, for example, you sing a song in English, you will remember everything. And if there is some grammatical construction there, you will automatically use it, use it correctly, without knowing the grammar. So, just stupidly speak out loud. Do some exercises, don't write, speak out loud, everything out loud. And you will find happiness. >> Let's talk a little about mistakes now. What are the three most common mistakes made by Russian speakers when learning English? >> Being shy about pronunciation. Believe me, here in America, men go crazy for accents. >> Uh-huh. >> And women too. That is, when someone speaks with a Russian accent or some other accent, they are like: "Wow, that's really beautiful." So, the first and easiest thing, don't worry about the accent. The worse you speak, the more beautiful it sounds to Americans. Uh-huh. >> Interesting. >> And the second mistake is when you go to teachers to learn English, and you do some exercises, fill in the blanks, write all that tedious stuff. It won't help you in life at all. You might remember the grammar, but you won't be able to speak. Therefore, choose teachers who immediately encourage you to speak from the start. Ask questions, speak, pronounce out loud. That's the most ideal. >> Uh-huh. >> The third mistake is when grammar is explained in very, very difficult language. All these gerunds, infinitives, plus 100, all that. God, you don't need any of that. Let them explain in simple language. Believe me, it's much more pleasant to learn English. And if they explain to you, teach you in complex language, especially grammar, you get very demotivated and don't want to at all. There is no pleasure in learning the language. >> Is it true that an accent is a part of personality, not a mistake? We've kind of talked about that, right? >> Yes. But pronunciation can be easily corrected, just by singing songs. Sing songs, completely copying how singers do it. I corrected my pronunciation from "mazafaker" like this: >> or listen to a movie or a video on YouTube, pause it, and repeat after them. That's how I learned the Indian accent, and that's how I learned the British accent. I used to watch Harry Potter and Hermione Granger and repeat after her, or I don't remember now. Wait a minute. So, I repeated after her, and now I speak brilliantly in British. The actress who plays Veronica in the future, I don't remember her name. She's probably British. And she was also talking on some evening show about how her daughter said: "Well, they have a difference, the British say 'water'," when they say "water," right? And Americans say "water," but it's almost like "wo-ter" there, right? >> Yes, yes. Yes. >> I actually notice it by ear, so to speak, right? But I can't reproduce it, to be honest. How you pronounce it now. >> I train like this, I watch YouTube. >> Cool. So, and consequently, you sing songs. Yes, I corrected my pronunciation thanks to Selena Gomez's songs. I sang along with her. Cool. >> It helps a lot. I can rap with Eminem too. I corrected my pronunciation well with him too. >> Wow, the speed there is insane. >> Yes, I used to sit and repeat. >> Cool, cool. You say you speak with different accents in English. What are your top three favorite accents? And please show them, demonstrate them for our viewers. >> I know four accents. I've directly >> studied them: American, British, Indian, Chinese. Wow. >> Chinese. Cool. So, can you say a phrase in these four? American. British. So, >> Indian. This requires some effort. >> So. >> [laughter] [laughter] >> It's definitely similar. >> Chinese, they speak like Chinese, the same way in English, like this. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> Listen, it's cool. Learning English with you is not only useful but also fun. >> [laughter] >> Similar, [laughter] I think so, yes, in some way. >> Okay, if we talk about our viewers, most of them are in the USA. What is the fastest way to learn English? >> If you learn on your own on the street with people, it's great, of course, but you will most likely speak with mistakes and then present at conferences. Meet in business, well, it's harder. >> Uh-huh. >> It's like a "pogosta baitersky" thing, but the main thing is you speak and you are understood. That's good. If you take, for example, a teacher once a week, twice a week, and a little bit of knowledge, and practice the rest in life, that's the most wonderful. Speak, speak, speak. That's it, don't worry. Everything you see, everything you do, just speak out loud. >> Uh-huh. Let's try it in practice. Now you will try to teach me, I don't know, maybe >> three phrases. What are the most common phrases that make sense to teach so that our viewers can see your methodology in action? I honestly admit, I'm not the most diligent student, but I think, based on what you've described, your method suits me very well. [laughter] >> For example, for absolute beginners, how to explain "I love you" in English. I love you. >> I love you. And how do you say, for example, "I speak English"? >> I speaking. No. >> I speak English. I love you. I speak English. >> Ah, I speak English. >> I speak English. Now we need to learn how to make a negation in the present tense. Like, "I don't speak English." >> I know. Well, I think, I don't speak English. >> Excellent. We just insert "don't" everywhere, and that's it. >> And, for example, "I drink water." How do you say that? >> I drink water. >> In general, right? And "I don't drink water." >> Yes, just insert it. Uh-huh. Now let's make a question. "Do you speak English?" >> Yes, we just put "do" at the beginning in a question, and that's it. "Do you drink water?" >> Uh-huh. "Do you sing?" >> Do you sing? >> Uh-huh. "Do you love me?" >> Do you love me? >> Yes, everywhere. "Do" is used. How do we ask special questions? How do you say "why"? >> Why? >> Why? And how do we ask the question: "Why do you speak English?" >> Why you speak English? >> Ah, I do. It goes in front. >> Ah, why do you speak English? Ah, ugh, it's difficult. So, why do you speak English? >> Uh-huh. Why do you speak English? Any special question is placed at the very beginning. For example, "when," "why," "where," "for what reason," all at the beginning. How do you say "when"? >> When. >> How do you say "when do you speak English?" >> When you speaking when do you. >> Ah, so always when it's a question, >> always a question, it's always "do" at the beginning, and any special question goes before that. >> Okay. Then it's "when do you speak English?" >> "Where do you speak English?" >> "Do you drink water?" >> "Why do you drink water?" >> "When do you drink water?" >> Excellent. It's like this. And it's like a scheme: I speak, I don't speak, do you speak? When do you speak, why do you speak? And so on. And this can be applied to everything. "I use the phone," "I use my phone," in general, right? And also negation, questions, and so on. That is, any sentence you can find, just use this scheme and speak. >> Uh-huh. And so, "why do you use?" Uh-huh. Okay. Yes, yes, yes. Very easy. >> Yes. Yes. Super, thank you. >> And simply, uh, and in a lesson, for example, you can take many, many different sentences like this and just practice them like this. Negation, question, negation, question, special question. And the language then gets so used to it that we stop thinking, "How do I say this?" The language already knows automatically, it will speak like that itself. Simply because of habit. And how, if we transfer this to the work of your school? Do you have pre-recorded lessons? Do you have live individual lessons with teachers? Do you have group lessons? How, in what format is it? >> I don't like recorded lessons, to be honest, >> because you can buy them and then forget about them. >> Uh-huh. >> But to learn English, you need constant practice, so that the language speaks a lot, constantly. Therefore, we have individual lessons. Ta-ta-tat with a teacher. The teacher gives energy, knowledge, explains as simply as possible, and the student practices. And in our classes, the teacher encourages speaking. That is, I can just ask questions in class, and you, for example, will speak a lot, answer them. And this way, the barrier falls faster, the language gets used to speaking, the speech apparatus is trained. >> We also have group classes, which we are just opening. It's also a great format when you practice not only with one person but with several, and you also learn from others' mistakes, and you also help and support each other. Uh-huh. >> There are mini-lessons when, for example, we are stuck in traffic, we have 15 minutes of free time, or someone is late, you quickly connect with a teacher, chat for these 15 minutes, maybe even learn a mini-rule, and then go about your business. >> Cool. And how much does such a mini-lesson cost? >> There are different prices, actually, it depends. I can send you all the links later. >> It will be interesting. Because, honestly, your format of classes is very interesting, because the classic one, again, is pre-recording. It's one to many. And, well, how to say it, the fact that you have such live lessons, it's very cool. Thank you. >> I just don't like tediousness. I don't like boring lessons. I don't like boredom in general and I don't like a boring life, >> so. Yes. >> When and how did you decide to open your own school? >> I didn't decide. So, >> I had no choice. [laughter] Well, you just conducted your tutoring sessions, right, and then somehow you managed to systematize it, right? Yes, >> at first, it turns out, I didn't have a blog, I was just an English teacher, and I already had students. I worked 7-8 hours a day, every day without days off. And I already had cool entrepreneurs studying with me, a director from Kaspersky, a politician, people like that, the Club 500. Many people studied with me, they really liked it. I worked 7-8 hours, and then when the blog started to develop, a large flow of people came to me. I started working 12-13 hours a day without a break for breakfast. I didn't have time to eat lunch. Between lessons, I had 5 minutes, I would quickly eat a banana or quickly shove in a sandwich, or someone would be late, and I'd think, "Finally, I can eat." I didn't have time. And I worked like that for a year. >> If it's not a secret, how much did you earn per month then? >> Initially, before the blog, when I worked 7-8 hours, I probably earned around 80,000 rubles. 70,000 rubles. Well, 800 dollars. When my blog started to appear and people started coming, I worked 12-13 hours a day, I increased the price. I
I put down 90 dollars for a lesson, for one lesson. They didn't stop, they just went on for many. I worked like that for a year without a break, and I burned out. I burned out so badly that when I teach, I have to give energy as a teacher. I have to be positive, come up with something cool. If I'm not in the mood, then we're unhappily studying English today. To be creative on the spot. Every adult person is different. Someone is talkative, someone is not, someone is sad. I have to adapt to everyone and understand their psychology. To motivate someone, or, conversely, to scold them. I don't like how you're doing, you've gotten worse, how is that even possible? Does that motivate you? Someone, on the contrary, you're great, you're handling this well, and so on. That is, I had to know psychology very well and always be full of energy. I gave so much energy, up to 13 hours a day, that at one point I burned out, I lay on the bed, I just couldn't get up. I felt completely without emotion. I lay there, I didn't want to eat, drink, or do anything. Uh-huh. >> And I realized, all this is very difficult. Ask my friends. I really didn't leave my room. I lived with friends, I didn't leave my room from morning till evening. They brought me food. Thank them. So. And at one point, a friend told me: "You work so much. Hire some teacher." and train her, give her your materials, and let students go to her. Yes, suppose you will earn less. But at least that. Where else are they supposed to go, people? I hire one teacher, I train her, and I fill her with students in one day. And there are still many more who want to. I hire a second teacher, I fill her in 1-2 days. Without an assistant, I can't even answer messages. I also can't sell alone. I hire an assistant. She doesn't have time to answer. I don't have time to answer correctly and work. I hire a sales manager. And so, little by little, to hire a sales manager, I need to know how to sell. I go to study sales, I don't understand anything, but at least something. >> That's not very good. >> But I'll tell you, it seems to me, based on what you've just said, you developed everything perfectly, except for one aspect, you know which one? >> Price. You needed to raise your prices quite seriously. When I was teaching physics, as a student at Bauman Moscow State Technical University, I set a price of 200 dollars for a two-hour lesson, though, of course. >> I'll tell you about that now. >> So, >> and my friend told me: "You already have many interested people. You're burning out, you're not valuing your energy." >> Yes. >> He said: "Offer a VIP package where one lesson costs 250 dollars, and you have to buy eight lessons, that's 2,000 dollars." I said: "Are you crazy, who will come to me for such money?" He said: "Well, just put it out there." If no one comes, you'll just say: "Okay." If someone comes, great, you'll replace 10 students with just one student. >> Yes. >> I thought, no one will take it. A normal person won't buy for such a sum. Especially, well, I don't know, I don't consider myself a conceited super-star, but I posted such a story, and my own student, before I became a blogger, he bought the VIP for 2,000 dollars for eight lessons. Cool. And my other student before that, whom I didn't have time to take, he said: "The main thing is, take me, I'll pay this amount." Cool. >> My own students used to come back to me because I didn't have time to take them. They were willing to pay for VIP. >> I was like: "So it's possible." I sold 4 VIPs in 1 hour. I earned 8,000 dollars in 1 hour. I thought: "Wow, people really want to study with me." >> Uh-huh. Cool. Well, so you have a very cool friend, and it seems to me he gave very good advice. And actually, besides your VIP, you could have raised prices with your own team of teachers, >> yes, because in general, how to say, if there's such a big workload, so to speak, that you don't have time, the only way, you know, some people might like it, it might not look very publicly, how to say, beautiful, but on the other hand, you see, who said that a lesson should cost, say, 90 dollars. >> Uh-huh. >> But where is that? Is there some kind of price list or what? So why 200 or 250, right? And therefore, here, in fact, you can try experimentally. Moreover, I had a school for over 20 years, >> and we had long-term clients who came at a very low price. I raised the prices for the old-timers, so to speak, for those students who joined me a long time ago, literally by 10% year after year. I said: "Look, my new price is this, but since you believed in me back when the walls were not beautiful, and we were not coping with something, you had this price then, it was fair at the time, but now we have different conditions. Let's, accordingly, raise it by only 10%, because inflation is actually more than 10%. Well, that's still very loyal, so to speak, towards old clients. And this kept the old-timers, but it also helped me progress. And I understood that I wasn't wasting, so to speak, organizational effort or the time of my employees and teachers. Therefore, look, maybe you can develop some kind of system, which would be, on the one hand, loyal, >> well, towards your regular clients, but on the other hand, it would allow you to see that you are really progressing, and maybe, by the way, you could even provide some additional service, but at the same time, raise your service every time. I am so a fan of my work. >> Uh-huh. >> But I'm just not a cool entrepreneur. Why? Because I don't understand anything about it at all. >> A cool entrepreneur. >> I really don't understand business. >> It doesn't matter. That's not the point. The point is that you have results. You know, how to say it correctly? You know, Steve Jobs said a very cool phrase. He says: "Hire people who will tell you." Like your girls, we discussed behind the scenes, that the team comes, tells you: "So, there are two solutions, you choose from these solutions." This is probably the most awesome entrepreneurial skill that everyone should have. I'm not kidding, I'm telling you seriously now. Well, you have an awesome competence [laughter] to build a structure, work, so that people come to you not for firefighting, but already say: "Boss, we've put out the fire, what do you say, would we have this option or that option?" >> Yes, my team is really great. Perhaps, if I don't understand something, I entrust it to the employees to figure it out and get the final results. And I really like to delegate because I don't like to fuss. I already have this Instagram, where I have to fuss a lot, and here I trust my employees. If a real problem arises that they can't solve themselves, they come to me, there's such a problem, there are two solutions, choose. I just say: "First" or second. That's it. And it's really cool. >> Uh-huh. >> Cool. Cool. >> But I created all this right when things were tight. Like, not enough employees, I'm like: "Damn, I need to hire a methodologist, I don't have time to develop it myself. It's just tight, I need to hire a methodologist." My account was blocked, and for an individual entrepreneur, I need to hire an accountant. So, everything, everything, everything, when it's urgent, you have to solve it, there's nothing left. That's how it was created. [laughter] >> Interesting. Well, it seems to me, again, I'll repeat, that method, that approach that you're conveying now, it turns out to be maximally effective. Well, you're not wasting money, you're not creating an excessive, so to speak, mass to satisfy yourself, some of your, you know, ambitions, that you're an entrepreneur, you have a team working. So, you encounter this or that issue, you hire people. Very cool. Well, it seems to me, this is really very cool. >> Thank you. >> Generally, let's tell our viewers. How can they get to you for training? >> Generally, if it's free, then go to my Instagram. I record a lot of interesting videos about English, very useful, and necessary. You can do that. And there will also be a link to our school. The school is called Hacking Hacking English. >> And for our regular viewers who watch our episodes and write comments with their conclusions, we can raffle off eight free lessons at your school. >> Yes, we have a package for eight lessons. Worth over 400 dollars. I don't know exactly in dollars. Those who write comments, we'll probably use a randomizer, choose a winner, and give a certificate for training for eight lessons. >> How did your surroundings react when you started? Did people support you or mock you instead? >> I was scared to start. I had 3,000 followers, specifically my friends. >> Uh-huh. >> And when I started posting these videos, I was embarrassed. You can say that. >> How long ago? You started exactly 2 years ago. 2 and a half years? Yes. When I posted such videos about English, my friends unfollowed me, and for me, it was a disaster. How could that be? I even felt ashamed. And some wrote to me: "What, did you become a blogger or something? >> Why did I keep such people in my circle? So offensive. >> But I was ashamed to start. And for the first 2 weeks, nothing went well at all. That is, I posted videos, very few people watched. >> Uh-huh. >> So. And only later, when it started to go viral, when it started getting 4-5 million views, those same friends returned and said: "You're so great, how do you do it?" We never doubted you, hypocrites. >> What do you think prevents people from starting their own blog? >> Firstly, the fear of what others will think. You should just not care. Well, they'll think, it's their problem. The second point is when, oh, I need to do this. Well, I'll film it tomorrow, well, the day after tomorrow. As soon as an idea arises, you need to film it immediately. I think my videos started to take off because I could be sitting in a dark cafe, where it's terribly loud, and say: "Let's film this, the idea just came." I filmed it immediately, I posted it immediately, and that's why I got views. And if a person says "I'll do it later," postpones it for later, it's usually always a failure. >> Uh-huh. >> You just need to do it. That's why stupid people, sometimes they are very rich. That is, they seem like stupid workers, but they become very successful directors and so on, business owners. This is because they don't think, they don't analyze, they just have something come to mind, they do it immediately. And there are smart people who analyze 100 times: "Do I need this, or not?" And they'll find a million reasons not to do it, that it will lead to failure. And business is always a risk. It's better to try and see if it works or not, than to do nothing at all. >> How do you feel about hate? And were there moments when hate really affected you, hurt you? >> Very much. I cried so much then. In general, for 2 years, messages from subscribers, from everyone, I respect my subscribers very much. Their messages are important to me. I read them. They support me. I look at their messages. I often reply to everyone. And often I came across messages where they offended me. They subscribe for English, but they say: "My face looks like an alcoholic old woman, for example." And I'm a girl, I want to be beautiful. They wrote very offensive things to me. That is, I am for everyone, like, a bum, there were various offensive comments, that I am fat, plump, whatever they wrote. And for these 2 years, all this accumulated inside me. And I remember at one point, when the cup fills up, and it all overflows. And I remember sitting down, I cried bitterly, I was so offended, I cried so much and thought: "Why is this? Why do people offend me? I wish them well, I give them all my knowledge, I make interesting videos, I teach English, I post stories with various new words, and they offend me so much." And I wanted to delete Instagram. I already had 500,000 followers. I wanted to delete Instagram. I had a burnout that I was flying on a plane and thought: "Why am I even living? If the plane crashes, well, it doesn't matter. That's how much." And I went on stories and said: "You are all subscribed to me for English. If you care about my appearance, unfollow me. If you are not here for English, leave, I'm not holding you." >> Uh-huh. Then many, some unfollowed, a couple of thousand people, but many sent me so much support, so many warm words. My stories were watched by 200,000 people, and they all wrote me warm words, that I couldn't log into Instagram. It started glitching, I couldn't click anything. So many messages that I was just kicked out of Instagram. I endured this moment. Now hate can't touch me at all. It's like I've developed immunity. If they can write something offensive to me, I can sit and think: "Damn, why so boring? Couldn't you come up with something original? Or: "Oh, a milkmaid." You know what a milkmaid is in English? I posted it on stories. A milkmaid is like this. Yes, they wrote to me: "You're a trickster." I was like: "Okay, there will be three options like this, like this, like this." So I started using it in content, and now it's impossible to offend me. Close people, yes, very close. >> Cool. >> But not at all, >> if we talk about formats on Instagram, which formats, in your opinion, are working now? >> I can say, those who want to develop TikTok, >> Uh-huh. >> The algorithms are such that as soon as you create a TikTok account, immediately post three to four videos a day. So, prepare in advance. That's how you can gain a lot of followers on TikTok. >> What about Instagram? >> Instagram, algorithms, regularity. Not necessarily three to four videos a day, but regularity. And the main thing is that it's interesting. I don't know, I do Instagram intuitively. I don't search much, but I try to do everything most interesting. >> How often? >> Three to four times a week, probably, I do. >> Uh-huh. Oh, >> so, if you post one video every day, it will be great. >> That's how I grew. >> Uh-huh. Cool. But I understand correctly that this consumes a lot of time, energy? >> Yes. And if, for example, I post stories, do storytelling, then that's it, it's for the whole day. You can forget about work. If I do reels, it will take about 3-4 hours, probably. Although it depends on the format and how easy it is for me to do it from different videos, but generally, yes, it's a huge effort, especially coming up with a cool idea. >> Listen, if we talk about earnings from blogging, are you able to earn anything from blogging itself, not as your product, but as an influencer, as a public figure with a large fan base? Yes, they buy advertising from me, Yandex buys it, I remember, Gazprom collaborated, Skill Factory, private applications about English, but I rarely take them. >> My prices are high, and I rarely take them because I mainly try to advertise my own product. I don't want to clutter my Instagram with something, so that there isn't too much advertising. >> Uh-huh. >> I'm not comfortable with it. It feels like an Instagram blog is for pleasure. >> Uh-huh. I don't want to clutter it, let it be only my own. >> And considering that you know English, and that you have many followers from the USA, it's only natural for you to interact with brands from the USA. >> Actually, I'm still surprised that they recognize me here in New York, here in the USA. For me, it's like >> what's happening? Are you serious? I was at a wedding, I accidentally ended up at a wedding. 20 people recognized me, everyone took pictures with me. I'm just walking in Manhattan to a store, someone approaches me and says: "Isn't that you?" I'm often recognized like this, not only in New York, but in other states too, so every time I'm amazed: "How is that possible? It's impossible, it's unreal." So every time it's a surprise for me. >> Many of our compatriots, from CIS countries, are afraid to speak English. >> Uh-huh. As an expert, as a person who has trained thousands, I think, of people, what advice would you give them to overcome this fear, some internal barrier, and start speaking and integrating into society? >> The harshest to us are our own. Those who criticize our English the most are our own. Americans will never criticize you at all. They will, on the contrary, patiently wait for you to finish thinking, for the thought to come, for you to remember the word. They are very patient with this and will definitely support you. So in this regard, you shouldn't be afraid, you will feel support from them. Firstly. Secondly, the most wonderful thing is to start with a teacher. It's really the easiest way, because a teacher already knows how you learn English, because they've done it themselves and will get you into it faster. Study for a month, two, three, and then, just regular communication with Americans will help. These are the main tips regarding pronunciation. Really, don't stress about it. >> That's your biggest advantage. I would like to speak with an accent, because, well, it's beautiful. >> Let's talk about America. What are the pros and cons of America you've noticed for yourself, considering you've been here more than once? >> To be completely honest. First, people here are friendlier, they really smile, they help. I learned it here. If someone is taking a photo, I can approach them, maybe take a photo of you, because they do that to me. It's very pleasant. And if I, for example, stumble and fall, someone will approach me, help me. No one will just stand by and watch. People are somehow friendlier, kinder. And maybe it's just me, maybe that's how I see it. >> And secondly, you can make money on anything here. >> Uh-huh. Any opportunity, you can really make money on anything. That's second. Third. I really like the men here. They are very caring, they are really good, and externally they are to my taste, and there are more of them than in Russia, at least. So in Russia, there are significantly fewer men now. >> Uh-huh. >> So. And these are probably the main advantages that I like. Especially here, in New York, there's a lot of trash on the streets, although in other states and cities, not so much. I don't like that there are a lot of homeless people. >> Uh-huh. >> Way too many. And it's supported here, because of freedom of choice, what would you do? Let's say you're in Trump's place. What would you do? >> I'm not a politician, let them sort it out themselves, but just what I see, I don't particularly like it. >> It's more dangerous here than in my country. It's much more dangerous here than in my country. >> Which country are you talking about now? Russia. >> Russia. >> Uh-huh. >> It's more dangerous here. >> It's more dangerous here >> much. Yes, I've already been caught in shootouts. >> Caught in shootouts? >> Yes. They threatened me with a weapon to take my money. Well, that was in Philadelphia in 2017, but the fact is that. >> Uh-huh. >> It happened. >> You gave them the money? >> Of course. He was so polite. His eyes were red, his hands were shaking like this. And I was withdrawing money from an ATM. I turn around. >> How much was it? What time was it? >> It was during the day in the city center. Yes. I look, and there's a black guy standing there. He says: "Excuse me, please, could you give me this money? I really need it." I was like: "Of course, of course." I gave him the money and that was it, he left. >> Uh-huh. >> Oh, I have goosebumps. I was very scared. >> I understand you. >> Yes, I was shaking. >> Listen, I want to tell you my own story. In 2015, an acquaintance of mine wanted to take over my business. He organized a gang attack in Moscow. Everyone knows who he is. He sent three guys, you know, like thugs. If it weren't for my wife, who happened to be nearby by chance, and a week later, almost after they came to my work, we were just walking home. And they found out where I live. Like, near my house, they started beating me. And my wife started screaming so hysterically. And she noticed them first. So, men ran out, wearing just t-shirts, shorts, and so on. It was March. It was still a bit cold. So, where are they shaking? And you know, she just hit me on the shoulder and said: "Run." And I, well, she ran in the other direction. And I, initially, this guy was after me, and then two more brothers were coming towards me. In short, I ran in a semicircle like this, because I saw them running towards me, changing my trajectory. I tripped, fell, curled up, and they started hitting me with clubs, I was all purple, you know, all purple. And it's good that she screamed, because they actually stopped hitting me quickly. I felt like they were hitting me weakly. I thought, I'll get up now and hit them back. You know, I wasn't thinking straight, I looked, and they were actually running away. I ran after them. And only then did the thought occur to me when I started running after them and said: "Well, you want to get more, don't you?" You know, I returned and shook my wife, because she couldn't stop. She was in a hysterical state. >> And she says: "I was completely sure that they would just kill you." Well, you know, that kind of state. What do you think the police did? >> They covered it up? He says: "I was with the children at fitness, I was at training. That's it." Well, how to say? >> Well, I'm not talking about situations like that, of course. Yes, I know that exists. And not only in our country, but everywhere. But here I mean that they just walk around with weapons, they can just go out and shoot, and so on. So, here, in the middle of the day, in the middle of the city, such a thing can happen, it's a bit different. >> Weapons are legalized, many are under the influence, and anything can happen just on the street. Okay. Fair point. Agreed. >> Well, if you stayed in the USA, >> Uh-huh. >> what kind of business would you launch? >> Oh, I already know. I know it will be successful. I would immediately open TikTok >> and start making videos on how to learn Russian, how to teach Russian. Like this. >> And I would teach Russian to Americans and foreigners in general. I would gain followers, open a school, hire teachers who teach Russian, and build a business. Now Russian is becoming very popular here in America, and many are really enthusiastic, many want to learn. I think it would be successful. >> Cool. >> Especially since it's not only for the American audience, but for everyone who speaks English. >> Cool. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you. Yeah.